New Year, New Goals: Setting Your Dog, and You, Up for Success This Year
Image description: German Shepherd sits on a brown floor with a black background behind her with soft yellow and white circle lights in the background. She wears a black bandana that says “Happy New Year” in yellow. To the left of her is text reading
happy new year” and to the right is text reading “Luna”
New Year, New Goals: Better Living With Your Dogs!
The start of a new year often comes with big intentions—eat better, move more, get organized. But what about life with our dogs?
This year, let’s take the opportunity to pause and ask ourselves: What would make life easier or more enjoyable for me AND my dog this year? And some good news for you, this doesn’t have to mean “perfection” or rigid resolutions. Instead, it’s about choosing goals that support your life with your dog for growth, confidence, and well-being—one small step at a time.
Why New Year Goals Work for Dogs (and Humans)
Dogs thrive on clarity, consistency, and most of all, repetition. Setting intentional training goals helps ensure your dog is practicing the behaviors you want to see more of, rather than ones that develop accidentally. Your dog is going to repeat what they rehearse, for better or worse- so let’s make it for the better this year!
And the best part? Progress doesn’t require hours a day. Even a few focused minutes, practiced consistently, paired with a management plan will create meaningful change this year!
Start by Choosing the Right Training Goals
Not sure where to start? When setting goals for life with your dog, think less about “fixing” and more about building skills. Ask yourself:
What feels challenging right now in daily life?
What would make outings, guests, or routines feel easier?
What skills do I want my dog to have in the next 6–12 months?
Some realistic and impactful goal ideas:
Walking on a loose leash around the neighborhood
Building calm greetings with people
Strengthening recall and engagement outdoors
Helping a puppy develop confidence and life skills
Preparing for therapy or service dog work
Creating a more settled, relaxed dog at home
Small, specific goals are far more effective than vague ones. “Practice calm leash walking for 5 minutes daily” is much more achievable than “fix pulling.”
Progress Over Perfection
Training is not linear. There will be great days and frustrating ones—and that’s normal. What matters most is consistency, support, and adjusting expectations as your dog learns.
Remember: your dog doesn’t know it’s a new year with new expectations and goals. They only know what’s being reinforced today. Every repetition—good or bad—counts, which means setting your dog up for success matters!
Make This the Year You Start (or Restart)
Whether you’re welcoming a new puppy, navigating adolescence, or refining advanced skills for service dog work or therapy dog goals, there is no “right” time to begin training—now is the perfect time to start!
If you’re not sure where to begin or want help creating a plan that works for your dog, I’d love to support you. Training is an investment in your relationship—and it’s one that pays off all year long and beyond.
So here’s to a year of putting life with your dog Centre Stage! Reach out to contact@centrestagedogtraining.com or check out www.centrestagedogtraining.com for personalized support!
Check out our goal-setting worksheet below to get you started!
New Year Dog Training Goal-Setting Worksheet
Dog’s Name: ________________________
1. What Do You Want to Improve?
(Check up to 3)
☐ Leash walking
☐ Calm greetings
☐ Settling/relaxation
☐ Focus around distractions
☐ Reactivity or over-arousal
☐ Puppy foundations
☐ Confidence & neutrality
☐ Therapy or service dog skills
☐ Other: ______________________________
2. My Top Training Goal is…
3. How We’ll Practice:
How often: ☐ Daily ☐ 3–5x/week ☐ 1–2x/week
Time per session: ☐ 2–5 min ☐ 5–10 min ☐ 10–15 min
Where we’ll start: ☐ Home ☐ Yard ☐ Quiet outings ☐ Class
4. Management Plan: (What will help my dog succeed while learning?)
☐ Higher-value rewards
☐ More distance from distractions
☐ Shorter, easier sessions
☐ Leashes, gates, or setups
☐ Professional support
Other:
5. What Progress Looks Like:
☐ Leash is loose on walks, making them more enjoyable
☐ Faster recovery from mistakes
☐ Improved focus and engagement
☐ Skills working in new places
☐ Fewer problem behaviors overall
Other: